The snakes in our study responded to this sound, and many significantly so. So it's probably safe to say snakes can hear people speaking loudly or screaming. That doesn't mean they can't hear someone talking (a normal conversation is about 60 decibels) – we just didn't test sound at this noise level.
Snakes can hear and react to sound traveling through the air, which means they can hear stomping around before you arrive, and the screams when you see them! You scaredy-cat. The new research which reveals this somewhat distressing news was done in Queensland with real snakes which were not anaesthetised.
“But our research – the first of its kind using non-anesthetised, freely moving snakes – found they do react to soundwaves travelling through the air, and possibly human voices.” The study involved 19 snakes, representing five genetic families of reptile.
Until now, snakes were believed to be able to hear sound vibrations only through the ground. New research has debunked this, showing the reptiles also hear airborne sound vibrations and react to this. The observations may help humans deter snakes and avoid snakebites.
Most people don't realize snakes don't have ears which makes them deaf. It doesn't matter what kind of noise you make to scare the snake away, it won't hear you either way. It is actually the vibration of the noise that frightens the snake. There are many different ways to scare snakes into slithering away.
Because snakes don't hear sound vibrations in the air very well, clapping is not an effective way to scare them away. Instead of clapping, try stomping your feet on the ground to produce vibrations that the snake will feel. This will be more effective than clapping.
Not only does loud noise assault the poor snake with disturbing airwaves, it rocks and rolls his body with the driving beat of powerful bass rhythms blasting through your floor. Your snake needs a more peaceful scene such as a quiet room free of the excessive noise and goings-on that upset and stress him.
Be Snake Aware
Snakes like to curl up in dark, quiet places during the heat of the day. Typically in the early morning and evenings, snakes will become more active.
Snakes do not typically like being pet, but some that become accustomed to being handled don't mind the human interaction. Snakes can definitely feel when you pet them but the sensation is not as desirable as it is for many domesticated animals.
Even though they can't see colors or far away objects, snakes have very good close-up vision. This means they can see things that are right in front of them very clearly. Their eyes are also very sensitive to movement, so they can easily spot their prey (or predators) from a distance.
Snakes won't be receptive to your affection—they're wary animals who don't like being held, touched, petted, or passed around.
But in snakes, the cochlea is connected to…the jawbone. So, if you walk past a snake that's resting with its head on the ground, the vibrations from your footsteps jiggle the snake's jaw, which shakes the snake's cochlea, so the snake can hear you move.
Snakes can recognize their owner's specific smell over time and associate it with food. Because of this, they will see their owner's presence as positive. However, snakes do not possess the intellectual capacity to feel affection for their owners.
Don't wave things at them because that may agitate them. Don't try to push them off the trail with a stick – that's often how people do get bitten. Shouting won't scare them off either - they don't have external ears – but they can “hear” really well by picking up vibrations in their jaw and bones.
“Those are situations where a strike might happen.” Both venomous and nonvenomous snakes are extremely wary of humans and are not prone to strike. A bite is their last-ditch effort to avoid harm.
Tips to stay safe around snakes
Snakes respond to movement more than vibrations. Stomping your feet won't scare them away.
Snakes don't have great memory or sight, so won't recognise the look of their owner. They only have a good memory for smells as they rely on smell to locate prey in the wild.
Unlike mammals that can demonstrate complete emotions like love, joy, or even jealousy, snakes do not demonstrate deep feelings like these. So even though they have emotions, their feelings are a bit primitive.
Your Snake is Happy If…
He moves slowly when handled; snakes move quickly when stressed to avoid danger. If he is comfortable around you, he will be relaxed when picked up. Doesn't hyper-focus too often; snakes who feel threatened will focus on what is in front of them such as prey or predator.
Foxes and raccoons are common predators of snakes. Guinea hens, turkeys, pigs, and cats will also help keep snakes away. If foxes are indigenous to your area, fox urine is a very good natural repellent for snakes when spread around your property.
The thing snakes hate the most are strong scents. They are highly sensitive to smell and rely on it for hunting, so anything too strong will disorient them and repulse them. This highly developed sense is a mechanism to make up for bad eyesight.
No. The charm has nothing to do with the music and everything to do with the charmer waving a pungi, a reed instrument carved out of a gourd, in the snake's face. Snakes don't have external ears and can perceive little more than low-frequency rumbles.
The truth is that snakes actually lack the ability to hear and thus do not hear the music. Instead they respond to the vibrations and movements of the naskar. The snakes also follow the swaying movements of the snake charmer as he plays the naskar.
Similar to a dog's growl, a snake's hiss generally means “back off!” Snakes usually hiss when they feel threatened, angry, or annoyed.